Friday, October 7, 2016

Answering the 10 Count....

So is it true? Is it NOT true? Is TNA's proverbial final swan song a done deal or are we being led by our noses? No matter what your opinion of the current product, whether jaded or stoked, satisfied or disappointed, the fact remains that the rumors of TNA being on legitimate last legs continue to run even as the most recent set of tapings wrap up for the week going all the way to November. I, for one, am completely lost in this....

First I hear that Bound for Glory may be cancelled for the first time as a purchase is written on the wall and in stone at that and then, at the 11th hour, an influx of funds comes in and saves the day on Bound for Glory AND the set of following tapings. THEN, I'm hearing news that WWE is posting leaks on their website that TNA's library may be coming soon to the network. Follow that with word that Dixie addressed the locker room just before the BFG PPV stating that she will NEVER sell to Vince no matter what.......yep....totally lost.....

So what's the real story? Well, simply put, I have no idea. I can speculate, but as far as putting together any kind of data to back said speculation up, it's really just a guess based on bits and pieces and wishful thinking. Keep in mind that there is no pattern to watch here...it's almost entirely guesswork, but in order to fill in the blanks, we HAVE to know the players at the table.

1. WWE....They want the library. Seriously. Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, and everyone else WWE by way of NXT brought out of the free agent pool from the TNA or NJPW side of the fence have a legacy in those tapes...over a decade's worth of highly acclaimed matches and content to match as well as hype package fodder for the returns of any number of talents from their roster's past.....it's all there.

Now, if rumors are true, they have low-balled their offer on this little gem and it is truly an insulting deal to Dixie and company.

2. Aroluxe...Ron and Don Harris' company has a stake in this pot and, though my understanding of how MUCH stake is more than a little veiled, the fact of the matter is that they have a seat at the table.

3. Billy Corgan.....As a minority shareholder and the current President of the company, his interest is clear. Poking and prodding could reveal that Corgan and his contacts may have saved the company's big PPV and subsequent tapings to boot, but they could just as easily reveal that the funds came from the sale of his share to someone with a far more vested share in the outcome of the month or so of negotiations.

Could there be more? Absolutely. I've heard rumors that Sinclair Broadcasting, the parent organization hosting Ring of Honor is also interested in taking a stake in the company, but nothing is even written in crayon on the matter as far as a deal, from my understanding of the situation.

My HOPE is that the final piece to the puzzle reveals that a man I haven't heard one iota from since his final farewell over a year ago is the company's white knight and is finally wanting to put the gloves on and take the reins back for the first time in a number of years. But holding my breath for the return of Jeff Jarrett is NOT what I plan on doing until such time as his role is revealed, if it exists at all. Is it possible? Sure. Do I believe his return is smart business? Absolutely. It would give GFW a fully GLOBAL platform to launch a new banner from AND give TNA a rebranding to boot.

I've been preaching this ever since it was rumored he was returning to be inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame a long while ago. I still stand by it. If Dixie sold off her share in the company and allowed GFW to fold themselves into the fray, along with Jarrett's team of investors, I believe the company COULD bounce back and not only survive, but THRIVE with some of the best names in TNA's creative past as well as their talent past as well. Scott D'Amore and Jeff Jarrett working alongside Billy Corgan and the current crop or writers would be an amazing fit.

Setting aside this pipe dream, I acknowledge that without a set group of investors who are committed to the success and forward push of TNA, the end is absolutely nigh. I realize that it took a long time for me to say it, but I'm not blind in all of this. The breath of life is all that remains and must come soon.....